Apparatus and method for washing gels



APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WASHING GELS Filed Sept. 14, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l trays for support .dra

Patented 11011.27, 1945 ,maneras AND on Foa wasmo Gsus H. Gabeler, Baltimore, Md.,

-nnavmn chemical comi-anun. Baltimore,

v umaulphate. The so formed hyl conta the undesired reaction products is allowed to mt into a hydrosel and the latter is washed to remove the undesired soluble reaction products therefrom. Qther methods of preparing silica d other inorganic gels are employed for ieg sels con l t various quentities of impuriti which may be washed out with a suitable wml-1lmedium. One of the general prures involved in the washing of the hydrogel. and other gel forms in accordance with the prior art resides in the immersion oi the gel in a we medium. Varying degrees of success are obtained with this prior method and in many cases the results are unsatisfactory.

One :t s vantage ci the prior art methods is the loss due to the s f of the gel which in the was f A1 st is very ir z e. Due to the fragility oi th el, a largeouantity or very one gel particles are obtained even in instances where larger size particles are dhle.

An object oi this invention is to provide an in which inorganic gels may be washed ,in a manner which avoid the disadvtages oi the prior art. v

Another ohiect oi this invention is to provide an apparatus in which inorgc sels may be washed with a mium amount of damage to the gel. Y

Still another object oi this invention is to provide an apparatus consishna of a plurality of the sel in thin layers lor the pee ol a washing medium through the layers. f

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus comprising a plurality of interconnectible chambers in which stacks of trays having ioous bottoms may he arranged for supporting the gel in a plurality of thin layers while ilowing a washing medium therethrough. A

With these and other objects in view, the present invention resides in the parts and combinations hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the lli 2 tothewashing' sesenta 1i. 194s. semina. 502,348

f (ci. ca -1er) In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diasrammatical sectional view of a w apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stack of washing trays having foraminous bottoms on which thinlayers of sel may be arranged for washing. Y

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a stach oi trays shown in e 2.

An inorganic gel may be washed in accordance with the present invention regardless oi' its method oi manufacture. The present invention. however. is especially suitable for the washing of a hydroael which has been broken into lumps or fragments which willpass through a screen having approximately 3-inch mesh. In my application Serial No. $13,243, led January 22, 19i3, there is disclosed a method of loading gel, which has set in a. small tub, into trays oithe type employed in g outI the present invention. In the prior application, trays similar to trays l shown in the drawings ci the present application are positioned beneath s, grating or screen through which large masses of the gel to be loaded into the trays are passed. After the sel is deposited in the tray, it may he spread in a thin layer on the tray by a rohe or other suitable means. r

For purposes oi convenience, the trays i which are vof substantially mi shape are provided with a oraminous botto t which is suitably secured to the side walls of the tray. The

illustrated in Figure 2, a suitable ho trays are preferably constructed oi wood or other suitable material which is unaiected by the acid which is usually present in the gel and in the washing medium employed in washing the gel.

A plurality of the trays i containing the gel to be washed are stacked as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 oi the drawings onto racks i. The racks comprise a rectangular frame-like platform 3a having lifting bars or loops t extending upwardly therefrom with whicha lifting yoke 5 may be associated for hoisting the rack and the stacks of trays mounted thereon. For purpOses of convenience, the trays are constructed in the form of oblongs oi such proportions that two stacks of trays l, can be arranged on the rack 3. In some instances, the trays i and the platform 3a may be of the same length and width so that only one stack oi trays is received by the platform 3a.

After the trays are'stacked on the rack 3, as

g mechat; i. may he employed to lift the rack and the '55 trays thereon containing the gel to be washed and lower the same into a, series of washing chambers or tanks 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e and 6i, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The chambers or tanks B may be of wooden construction and lined with lead or other suitable acid resisting material. It has been found desirable to provide a partition 'I extending from the upper portion of the chamber or tank 6 to a point spaced from the bottom thereof, thereby. dividing the chamber into two washing compartments 8 and B. Each of the washing compartments 8 and 9 is so dimensioned as to snug1y receive one or more racks 3 containing stacks of trays l. For purposes of illustration, two stacks of trays have been shown in one of the compartments 8 in the drawings but it is to be understood that the wash tanks may be made of any desired depth to accommodate either one, two or more stacks of trays.

As shown in Figure 1, each compartment 8 of each tank is provided with a sump or pit 8a in the bottom thereof which communicates through a duct la with a similar sump or pit da in the other compartment 9 of the same tank. Tl'ie portion of the bottom of the tank compartments surrounding the sumps 8a and 9a are so dimensioned as to receive the platforms 3a of the trai7 racks with the opening 3b in the platform of the racks registering with the sump.

Since the dimensions of the platforms 3a correspond to the dimensions of the trays stacked thereon, a platform may be fitted on top of the uppermost trays of a stack.

When the racks containing the stacks of trays are positioned in the compartments, a conduitlike structure is provided which'registers with the sump or pit in the bottom of the compartments, the outer walls of the trays and the platforms of the several racks serving as conduit walls. With this construction, flow of wash water through the gel in the stacked trays is insured.

On the uppermost tray of the upper stack, a perforated cover plate 2a is fitted and secured if necessary by suitable means (not shown) to prevent the gel from being carried out of this tray.

It will be noted from Figure 1 of the drawings that the series of six wash tanks are interconnected. For purposes of supplying fresh' washing medium, such as water, to each of the tanks, there is provided a supply conduit II! designated hot water line in the drawings. This line is supplied with fresh washing medium from a so-called piano box Il into which a mixtureof water and steam suitably proportioned to obtain a desired temperature is introduced. The water may be introduced into the piano box through a supply conduit I2 and mixed with steam supplied through a conduit I3. Suitable valves not shown are provided in each of the conduits I2 and I3 -for proportioning and controlling the supply of water and steam to the piano box.

The so-called piano box BI is provided with a partition I dividing the inlet side of the box from the outlet side thereof. This partition is provided with a series of orices I arranged'at various levels throughout the box. This device serves to indicate the amount of washing medium sowing through trie box inte the washing system. The operator merely has to glance at the partition I4 and ascertain the number of openings through which the liquid is flowing to determine the rate of ow of the washing medium into the system. A. plurality of branch conduits llEa, Mib, etc., provided with valves il, extend from the hot water line I0 to each of the wash tanks 6.

Between adjacent tanks 6, there are provided a plurality of booster boxes I8a, I8b, etc., which are connected by conduits I9 and 20 provided with valves 2I and 22, respectively, with the wash tanks. The booster boxes are each provided with a drain line 23a, 23h, etc., which connects with a sewer line 24 common to al1 of the wash tanks. Each of the drain lines is provided with a control valve. The discharge of liquid from the booster boxes through the drain lines 23 may be controlled by plugs which may be inserted into the drain lines 23 to prevent the flow therethrough or by the provision of valves 23 in said lines. Each of the booster boxes has communicating therewith a branch steam pipe 2li which is provided with a valve 25 for controlling thel supply of steam from a steam line 25 to the respective booster boxes.

The booster box at the extreme righthand portion of Figure 1 is connected by a conduit 2l provided with a valve 28 to the tank 6a shown at the extreme lefthand portion of Figure l.

In addition to the drain connections 23 from the booster boxes, each of the wash tanks is provided with a drain Zea, 2gb, 29e, 29d, 29e and 29f, each provided with a valve 3U whereby any liquid in the tanks may be discharged to the sewer line- With the construction illustrated, each of the wash tanks 6a, 6b, 6c, ed, Se and Bf may be connected in series through the booster boxes and the communicating conduits le and 20.' In addition, the tanks da and Gf may be serially connected through the conduit 2l so that all of said wash tanks may be connected in a substantially closed circuit if desired.

In utilizing the apparatus illustrated in Figure l for carrying out the present, invention, the racks 3 containing the stacks of trays l filled with thin layers of the gel to be washed are placed in the several compartments 8 and s of each of the Wash tanks 6a, 6b, tc, td, te and 8f. At the initial utilization of the apparatus, it may be preferable to first ll one of the tanks such as Ef and then start the introduction of the washing medium into said tank through the appropriate branch conduit I6. For this purpose, the water supplied through conduit nI2 which may be controlled as to yits pH value has steam supplied through the conduit i3 mixed therewith to bring it to the desired temperature. The flow of water and steam through the conduits I2 and I3 are so controlled as to obtain the desired rate of now. As indicated by the arrows in the drawings, the washing medium introduced into tank S, for instance, will ll said tank and eventually reach the level of the conduit I9 from which the liquid will flow into the booster box wf illustrated on the right of said tank. When only one tank is in operation as, for instance, tank 5f, the washing medium discharged into the booster box from tank- Bf may be run into the sewer line through the drain S.

If the tank 8f is the rst one loaded with the gel to berwashed, the nextl tank to be loaded would be tank 6a. In this instance, after the tank "6a is loaded with the racks of trays containing the gel, the valve 2 8 would be opened and the valve 23' of the booster box I8f to the. right of tank 8f would be close'd. With the valves 23 of conduit 23j and 28 in the positions above referred to, the wash liquid discharged from the tank tf would dow into the associated booster box B81 in which it would be heated by steam l desired extent.

supplied through the branch`conduit 24 and would then now through the line 2l to the intake compartment 8 of the. tank lia. After the tank 6a is iilled with the wash liquid, the liquid would overiiow from tank 6a through the conduit I 9 into the associated booster box ma from which it would be discharged through the associated drain pipe 23a to the sewer line. i,

The loading of the racks containing the trays of gel into the tanks is eiected successively until all of the tanks are iilled with racks of trays containing gel to be washed. The circulation of the washing medium successively from one tank to the other of the series is continued until the gel in the first loaded tank has :been washed tothe When this has been accomplished, assuming that tank Bf was the rst tank loaded, the valve ill of the conduit if associated Y with tank 6i would be Vclosedand the valve li of the conduit lita associated with tank ta would be opened. Thus, the supply of fresh washing liquid would be shifted from tank tf to tank tu. 'Ihe liquid contained in the tank 5f could then be drained through the drain conduit 291 into the sewer line and the racks of trays containing the washed gel could be removed. After r@maval of the washed gel, further racks containing trays of unwashed gel could be introduced into the tank and in this instance the washing'medium from the tank lastA loaded instead of being dis,- charged into the sewer could then be introduced into the newly loaded tank.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a more or less continuous washing system is provided. Preferably, the iirst loaded tank of the Atanks inthe circuits is supplied with the fresh wash medium and the last loaded tank receives the washing medium after passing serially through the previously loaded tanks and the wesh ,ments and t, the washing medium flowing downwardly through the compartment t and up wardly throughthe compartment d. This direction of now is of course not critical and the now of the washing mediumv through the tanks may be in any desired direction. Furthermore, if desired, the wash tanks may be constructed so that the washing medium is introduced either at the top or the bottom and withdrawn from either the top or the bottom, as the case may be.

The arrangement of the wash tanks in a substantlally closed circuit enables the washing of the gel in stages to be carried out on a substantially countercurrent principle, In other words, in enect, the washing medium moves countercuryrently to the portions or stages of gel undergoing w so that the portion of gel which is most nearly washed will be subjected to the fresh washing medium.

By arranging the trays in stacks on the specially constructed rgracia platforms and placing the latter in register with the wells in the bottoms oi the tank compaents, the stacked trays andi-ack platforms cooperate to form a closed conduit in which the gel is supported and through which the washing medium is passed. A

In some instances, it is desirable to control the pH value oi the washing medium. This control may be eiected in any desired manner, a suitable acid being added to the fresh washing medium to maintain a predetermined pH value.

The apparatus herein described has proven to be satisfactory in that lgel may be washed in a minimum time most eiectively and with a minimum loss in the gel by reason of the lack of damage and breakage of the gel fragments which occur during the washing of gel in apparatus according to the prior art.

I claim:

1. A gel Washing apparatus comprising a, tank, a vertical partition dividing the tank into two compartments, a plurality of trays in each compartment, said trays having imperforate side walls and foraminous gel supporting bottoms and being arranged in assembled vertical stacks with the bottoms horizontal and the side walls of the several. trays cooperating toformV aV continuous vertical tubular Wall from the bottom to the top of the stack, means in the bottom of each compartment spacing the lowermost tray of each stack from the bottom of the compartment and providing sides enclosing the space between the lowermost tray of the stack and the bottom of the compartment, a duct placing the enclosed space between the lowermost tray'of the stack andthe bottom of the compartment of one compartment in communication with the corresponding space in the other compartment, a wash liquid supply inlet in the upper portion of one compartment above the uppermost tray in the stack therein, and a wash liquid outlet in the upper portion of the other compartment above the uppermost tray of the stack therein whereby wash liquid will dow from the inlet down through the stack of trays ini one compartment into the aforesaid space at the bottom thereof, through said duct into the corresponding space in the other compartment, and up through the stacked trays therein to said outlet.V

2. A gel washing apparatus comprising a tank, a vertical partition dividing the tank into two compartments, each compartment having a sump centrally positioned in the bottom thereof, a duct placing the sump of one compartment in communication with the sump of the other compartment, a plurality of trays in each compartment, said trays having imperforate side walls and foraminous gel supporting bottoms and being arranged in assembled vertical stacks with the bottoms horizontal and the side walls of the several trays cooperating to form a continuous vertical tubular wall from the bottom to the top of the stack, said stack of trays being positioned in said compartment with the side walls of the lowermost tray cooperating with the bottom of the compartment surrounding said sump to place the interior of said stack of trays in communication with the sump, a wash liquid supply inlet in the upper portion of one compartment above the uppermost tray in the stack therein, and a wash liquid outlet in' the upper portion of the other compartment above the uppermost tray of the stack therein whereby wash liquid will ilow from the inlet down through the stack of trays in one compartment into the sump in said compartment through said duct into the sump of the other compartment, and up through the stacked trays in said other compartment to said outlet.

3. A gel w apparatus comprising a. tank,

a vertical partition dividing the tank into` two compartments, each compartment having a sump centrally positioned in the bottom thereof. a duct placing the sump of one compartment in communication with the sump of the other compartment, a plurality of trays in each compartment, said trays having imperorate side walls and foraminous gel supporting bottoms and being arranged in assembled vertical stacks with the bottoms horizontal and the side walls of the several trays cooperating to form a continuous vertical tubular wall from the bottom to the top of the stack, a' tray stack supporting frame having a large central opening surrounded by a. continuous peripheral supporting wall in each compartment between the lowermost tray of the stack and the bottom of the compartment with the central opening in register with the sump and in register with the interior of the continuous tubular wall formed by the stack of trays to connect the interior of the stack of trays with said sump, a wash compartment above the uppermost tray in the stack therein, and a wash liquid outlet in the upper portion of the other compartment above the uppermost tray of the stack therein whereby wash liquid will new from the inlet down through' the stack oi trays in one compartment into the sump in said compartment through said duct into the sump of the other compartment, and up through the stacked trays in said other compartment to said outlet.

4. A gel washing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks, a vertical partition in each tank dividing the tank into two compartments, a plurality of trays in each compartment, said trays having imperforate side walls and oraminous gel supporting bottoms and being arranged in assembled vertical stacks with the bottoms horizontal and the side Walls of the several trays cooperating to form a continuous vertical tubular .wall from the bottom to the top of the stack,

means in the bottom of each compartment spacing the lowermost tray of each stack from the bottom of the compartment and providing sides enclosing the space between the lowermost'tray o the stack and the bottom of the compartment, a duct placing the enclosed space between the lowermost tray or the stack and the bottom of the compartment of one compartment in communication with the corresponding space in the other compartment, a Wash liquid supply inlet in the upper portion of one compartment above the uppermost tray in the stack therein, and a wash liquid outlet im the upper portion of the other compartment above the uppermost tray of the stack therein whereby Wash liquid will flow from the inlet down through the stack of trays ingone compartment into the aforesaid space at the bottom thereof, through said duct into the corresponding space in the other compartment, and up through the stacked trays therein to said outlet, and conduits connecting the Wash liquid outlet of one tank to the wash liquid inlet of an adjacent tank to eiect a, serial ow of wash liquid down through one compartment and up through the other compartment of each tank `and from the upfiow compartment of one tank to the downiiow compartment of the adjacent tank.

5. A gel washing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks, a vertical partition in each tank dividing the tank into two compartments, a plurality of trays in each compartment, said trays having imperforate side walls and foraminous gel supporting bottoms and being arranged in assembled vertical stacks with the bottoms horizontal and the side walls of the several trays cooperating to form a continuous vertical tubular. wall from the bottom to the top of the stack,

- means in-the bottom of each compartment spacliquid supply inlet in the upper portionwof one Y' ing the lowermost tray of each stack from the bottom of the compartment and providing sides enclosing thespace betweenthe lowermost tray of the stack and the bottom of the compartment, a, duct placing the enclosed space between the lowermost tray ofthe stack and the bottom of the compartment of one compartmentin communication with the corresponding space in the other compartment, a wash liquid supply inlet in the upper portion of one compartment above the uppermost tray in the stack therein, and a, Wash liquid outlet in the upper portion of the other compartment above the uppermost tray of the stack therein whereby wash liquid will flow from the inlet down through the stack of trays in one compartment into the aforesaid space at the bottom thereof, through said duct Vinto the Vcorresponding space in' the other compartment, and up through; the stacked trays therein to said outlet, and conduits connecting the wash liquid outlet of one tank to the Wash liquid inlet oi an adjacent tank to eiect a serial flow of Wash liquid down through one compartment and up through the other compartment of each tank and from the upiow compartment of one tank to the downfiow compartment of the adjacent tank, and means for introducing a heating medium into the wash liquid during flow through the conduits connecting the adjacent tanks. y

6. A method of Washing inorganic hydrogels comprising spreading the gel on foraminous bottoms lof a plurality of trays having imperforate side Walls, assembling the plurality of trays in vertical stacks Withthe side walls o the trays of each stack cooperating to form a continuous tubular conduit, positioning the stacks of trays in a Wash tankgdivided by a vertical partition into a plurality of compartments with the lowermost tray of one stack connected with a sump in the bottom of one compartment and with the lowermost tray of another stack connected with a sump in the bottom of the other compartment, feeding a Wash liquid into the upper portion of one compartment above the stack of trays therein down through the stack of trays into the sump connected with the lowermost tray, passing the liquid from the sump of one compartment to the sump of the other compartment and thence up through the stack of trays in the other compartment into the upper portion of the other compartment, and discharging it from said upper portion of said other compartment.

7. A method of Washing inorganic hydrogels comprising spreading the gel on foraminous bottoms of a plurality of trays having imperforate side walls, assembling the plurality of trays'in vertical stacks with the side Walls of the trays of each stack cooperating to form a continuous tubular conduit, positioning the stacks of trays in a plurality of Wash tanks, each tank being divided by a vertical partition into a plurality of compartments with the lowermost tray of one stack connected with a sump in the bottom of one compartment and with the lowermost tray of another stack connected with a sump in the bottom of the other compartment, feeding a Wash liquid into the upper portion of one compartment of one tank above the stack of trays therein down through the stack of trays into the sump connected with the lowermost tray, passing the liquid from the sump of one compartment to the sump voit @other compartment and thence up through the stack of trays in the other compartment nto the upper portion of the other compartment, and

vvided by a vertical partition into a plurality of compartments with the lowermost tray of one stack connected with a sump in the bottom of one compartment and with the lowermost tray of another stack connected with a sump in the bottom of the other compartment, feeding a Wash liquid into the upper' portion of one compartment of one tank above the stack of trays therein down through the stack of trays into the sump connected with the lowermost tray, passing the liquid from the sump of one compartment to the sump of the other compartment and thence up through the stack of trays in the other compartment into the upper portion of the other compartment, and passing the wash liquid from the upper portion 0f said other compartment downwardly and upwardly through stacks of trays in the compartments of succeeding wash tanks, and heating the wash liquid while passing it from one tank to a succeeding tank.

WILLIAM H. GABELER. 

